Inadequate Northampton care home staff ‘rude, racist and hateful’

A mental health facility has been put into special measures after inspectors said staff were “disrespectful, hateful and racist”.

Broomhill in Spratton, Northamptonshire, has been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission and placed in special measures.

Inspectors said people using the service were assaulting each other and management was not dealing with the problem properly.

Care home users told inspectors: “We did not always feel safe on the ward.”

However, inspectors found that the ward team had access to all the specialists they needed to meet the needs of people on the ward.

Managed by St Matthews Limited, Broomhill comprises 99 acute and high dependency rehabilitation beds.

The latest inspection, in July 2023, was carried out without notice to assess ongoing concerns raised by whistleblowers and to ensure that previous action plans were being implemented.

Inspectors found that “staff did not consistently treat people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.”

One person said, “I was teased by the staff for my chosen gender.”

Another witness said the inspectors were “rude, hateful and racist” and “did not take him out into the community because of his size”.

Concerns were raised about the cleanliness of the ward after a patient witnessed a rat in his room.

Inspectors found the wards were not clean and well-maintained, they added, adding that they also found torn, dirty and damaged furniture and equipment.

However, the inspection found that staff had developed a care plan based on a comprehensive assessment, which was an improvement over previous inspection results.

Craig Howarth, CQC Midland Deputy Director of Operations, said: “Staff did not always treat people with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. A third of people we spoke to had to wait until their needs were met. said.

“One person said they were teased by staff because of their chosen gender. Another person said staff were rude, hateful, racist, and that they were harassed by staff members because of their size. He said he did not take him out into society.

“This is completely unacceptable behavior and must be addressed as a priority by healthcare providers, as no one deserves to be treated like this, especially at such a dire time.”

He added: “It is concerning that the hospital has a history of failing to respond appropriately to the serious concerns raised by us.

“While leaders put forward action plans to address issues, we find that these actions are not always sustained or incorporated and can put people at risk of harm. Ta.

“However, following this inspection in July last year, providers have reported to us that they have made some improvements, and in response to the concerns raised we and our local health and social care partners We are actively working on this.

“If we do not make sufficient progress the next time we assess a hospital, we will not hesitate to use our executive powers to ensure the safety and well-being of people.”

The report also highlights the following concerns:

• Staff did not regularly provide people with regular access to activities that promoted rehabilitation, such as employment and educational opportunities.

• Staff did not always follow best practices after administering rapid sedation.

• Some wards had limited rooms that could be used as quiet areas.

• Staff did not always ensure that people were fully involved in the development and ongoing monitoring of care plans.

A Broomhill spokesperson said management had accepted the findings but said the report no longer “reflected current services”, adding that it had taken mitigating steps to satisfy funding authorities.

“We are grateful for the continued valuable support and guidance from the CQC team and Northamptonshire ICB.” [integrated care board] It has been 7 months since the test.

“DDuring this time, we have worked closely with internal and external stakeholders, including our Quality Improvement Committee, to implement a range of improvements at Broomhill that have resulted in significant positive change.

“We look forward to showcasing these improvements at our next CQC inspection.”

They added that patient safety is “our number one priority” and they are determined to improve the home.

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